Overview
- J.C. Escarra, the Yankees' 30-year-old rookie backup catcher, hit his first major league home run on April 27, a 415-foot drive off Chad Green in the eighth inning against the Blue Jays.
- The home run capped a doubleheader sweep for the Yankees and earned Escarra the team's player of the game belt and a postgame speech.
- Escarra's path to the majors included stints in independent leagues, work as an Uber driver and substitute teacher, and a minor league deal with the Yankees in 2024.
- Known for his defensive skills, Escarra has impressed teammates and coaches with his pitch framing and game-calling, ranking 12th in Catcher Framing Runs.
- Escarra retrieved the milestone ball from a fan in exchange for an autographed bat and plans to gift it to his father, a lifelong Yankees fan who immigrated from Cuba.